$2400
“TEA CLIPPER”
Oil on Linen   45” x 33”
Circa 1965

In this painting the artist depicts a Tea Clipper with sails billowing in an east wind. Tea Clippers were extremely fast ships meant for trade, specifically used to transport tea from the Orient to Western ports. Optimized for speed, they were too fine-lined to carry much cargo. Clippers typically carried extra sails such as skysails and moonrakers on the masts, and studdingsails on booms extending out from the hull or yards. This required extra sailors to handle them. In conditions where other ships would shorten sail, clippers drove on, heeling so much that their lee rails were in the water.

Before the viewer the sea roils in such detail that it appears you are in a smaller boat in the path of the larger ship. The artist has attempted to engage the viewer in such an effective way as to make him feel as if he is part of the scene.

$3000
“DRYING SAILS”  
Oil on Linen - 40½” x 29½”
Circa 1965

In this scene of New Bedford in the 19th century, the C.W. Morgan is at dock with hoisted sails drying. In the background the building with the sign “New Bedford Cord…”, is most likely a storage warehouse of The New Bedford Cordage Company, which was founded in 1842 by Joseph Ricketson, Benjamin S. Rotch, and William J. Rotch. The firm produced rope used on whaling and clipper ships. On the right, the large granite building appears to be the Bourne Counting House/ Durant Sail Loft located on Merrill’s Wharf.   As a young man, in the early 1930’s, the artist had studio space in this building.

An illustration of the good ship Morgan in port with its sails full, so that they may dry by way of the workings of wind and sun. A small sloop glides by in this tranquil scene. Of note is the excellent perspective of the pier with its visible pilings leading the eye to the ship and beyond. The artist was a master of perspective which strengthens his compositions. He puts you there on the docks with his convincing technique and you feel as if you are a part of the scene.

$1800.
“BARK CATALPA”
Oil on Linen  -  35” x 29½”
Circa 1969

The Whaling bark, Catalpa, became a famous when it was used to transport escaped Irish prisoners from an English penal colony in Australia to safe haven in an American port. The crime of the prisoners in question was their simple wish for Irish Independence. After a harrowing ordeal, which included a storm and pursuit by the English authorities, the Catalpa finally made its way to safety.  The Catalpa was to suffer the ignominious fate of being converted into a coal barge before it was condemned and scrapped at a later date.

Plowing the seas against azure skies, the artist’s portrayal of the Catalpa is entirely accurate. You can almost feel the waves sloshing against the boat’s hull. Hints of red at the waterline, in the masts and on the flag provide the perfect complement to all that blue and green.  Its flags fluttering in the breeze port end a peaceful passage to its destination… at least on this day.

$1600.
“BARK BERTHA”
Oil on Linen - 24½” x 20½”
Circa 1970

Bertha was relatively small. Her size meant she could be out to sea for a far shorter period of time if the right harvest was brought in quick enough. Bertha was built by Samuel Dammon in New Bedford in 1877 and whaled until she was lost at sea off Cape Verde, Africa, April 23, 1918. She was launched from Rodman’s Wharf, had a deck length 100 feet, overall length 107 feet, breadth 25 feet 10 inches, depth 11 feet 6 inches, and 177 tons. The Whaleman’s Shipping List describes her with a “…white oak frame, is copper fastened, and is in all respects equal to the vessels previously built by Mr. Dammon, which have had a high reputation on account of their durability and excellent sea going qualities.”

On the high seas, the bark Bertha sails against blue skies on an emerald sea. The artist painted a number of what could only be simply described as ship portraits. Simply rendered but with great precision of line so that you could pick out individual lines tying down the sails. It is what makes the painting so great: you could almost see yourself passing by on another bark and waving to your fellow seamen and wishing them fare thee well.

$2500
“BARK WANDERER WRECK”
Oil on Linen – 32½”  x  26½”
Circa 1968

 BARK WANDERER LOST (Vineyard Gazette, Tuesday, August 26, 1924 – 4:01 pm) Twenty-four hours after she had sailed bravely from New Bedford on what was to be her “last voyage,” the staunch old bark, Wanderer, last of New Bedford’s once glorious fleet of square-rigged whaling vessels, came to a tragic end off Cuttyhunk Island late Tuesday afternoon, when mountainous seas and a shrieking northeast gale drove her on to the jagged teeth of Middle Ground shoals. After seven men of her crew had been picked up by the Cuttyhunk Life Saving Station, the other boat with eight men could not be located. The boat’s crew, it was afterwards learned, finally reached the Sow and Pigs lightship, from which they were taken off Wednesday morning by the lifesaving crew.

 Here the artist has depicted the doomed whale boat, Wanderer, as it has just run aground near Cuttyhunk. The composition is a masterful study in silvery tones. The detail in the ship is magnificent as it sways to the left in its tragic final swoon. Once again overall tonality reigns supreme and there is a peacefulness belied by the tragedy about to ensue. Men died in this disaster but the effect here is one of a beguiling serenity. The ship has met its fate and will eventually break up into pieces that wash ashore to this very day.

$1800.
“C. W. MORGAN, OUTWARD BOUND”
Oil on Linen – 35½” x 29½”
Circa 1972

Perhaps one of the best-known whalers of New Bedford. The artist also knew the ship very well, as he was part of the museum crew when the ship was moved to Round Hill in South Dartmouth.  

The Charles W. Morgan was nearly destroyed in 1924 when the steamer Sankaty caught fire and broke free of her mooring lines. The burning Sankaty drifted across the river and into Morgan's port quarter, but the Fairhaven firemen managed to save the Morgan.

This event spurred Harry Neyland and some New Bedford citizens to restore and preserve the Morgan. Neyland eventually persuaded Colonel Edward Howland Robinson Green to save the ship. Green had the ship towed to his estate at Round Hill, South Dartmouth, and founded Whaling Enshrined, consisting of himself, Neyland, and John Bullard, the great-grandson of Charles Waln Morgan. Charles W. Morgan underwent restoration by Captain George Fred Tilton and was turned into an exhibition at Green's estate. After Colonel Green died, the ship suffered some damage in the ’38 Hurricane. It was eventually moved to Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, where it was restored and remains to this day.

The famous whaling ship C.W. Morgan cast off and heading out on a voyage around the Cape of Horn perhaps on a trip lasting years. Another ship portrait by the artist. Simply rendered but with consummate skill. These ships are no more so all we have are studies such as this to allow them to live on, into the future on our walls, and in our imagination.